Ticketmaster is a leading ticket sales and distribution company that provides ticketing services for many major concerts, sporting events, and live entertainment shows. There is often confusion around whether Ticketmaster sells tickets for the original face value or whether there are additional fees and markups applied.
What is face value for event tickets?
The face value of a ticket refers to the base price set by the event organizer or venue. This is the original price for the ticket before any additional fees or service charges are applied. The face value is often printed directly on the ticket.
For example, if a concert ticket has a face value of $100, that is the baseline amount that the artist/promoter has set for that ticket. The face value should reflect the original price prior to add-ons.
Do Ticketmaster tickets sell for more than face value?
In most cases, Ticketmaster tickets sell for more than the printed face value on the tickets. This is because Ticketmaster generally adds on a variety of fees and service charges to each ticket purchase.
Some of the common fees and charges added by Ticketmaster include:
- Service fee – This is Ticketmaster’s processing fee for each ticket. It can range from $5-$25 per ticket depending on the event.
- Facility charge – This helps cover the cost of renting the venue. Typically around $3-$20 per ticket.
- Order processing fee – A charge for processing and handling the transaction, often $5-$15.
- Delivery fee – For mailing or mobile tickets, generally $2-$12 per order.
When all of these various service charges and processing fees are totaled up, it’s very rare for a Ticketmaster ticket to sell for only the face value amount. In most cases, 10-25% or more is added on top of the original base price on the ticket.
Ticketmaster fees and why they are added
Ticketmaster defends its fees by saying they help cover the costs and technology involved in operating its massive ticketing platform. Processing millions of ticket sales and managing digital ticketing requires significant infrastructure and labor costs.
According to Ticketmaster, the fees include:
- Technology platform – Ticketmaster uses high-volume tech to process over 400 million ticket sales annually. Maintaining this platform comes at a substantial cost.
- Staffing – Ticketmaster employs thousands of customer service reps and tech personnel globally to keep systems running smoothly.
- Security – Fraud protection and cybersecurity measures are utilized to protect customer transactions and data.
- Venue setup – For many venues, Ticketmaster handles all hardware such as scanners and equipment to manage on-site ticket operations.
While fans are often frustrated by the fees, Ticketmaster contends they are a necessary part of providing convenient ticketing services. The convenience fees help Ticketmaster recoup the costs while also generating profits as a business.
Are there any exceptions where tickets sell for face value?
There are some limited cases where Ticketmaster tickets may sell for the printed face value without additional fees:
- Season ticket packages – Sometimes season ticket holders can renew existing packages without extra fees.
- Fan club presales – Special presales for fan club members may have tickets at face value as a perk.
- Ticket limits – A very small number of ticket releases may have fees waived, but only for the first few purchased.
- Special promotions – Occasionally fees are waived as part of a special deal or promotion.
However, in the vast majority of standard Ticketmaster sales, fans can expect to pay 10-25% more than face value after all fees are added. Tickets with a printed face value of $100 will typically cost $110-$125 when purchased through Ticketmaster.
Ways to avoid Ticketmaster fees
Savvy consumers do have some options to potentially buy tickets without all the extra Ticketmaster fees:
- Buy directly from the venue box office – Some venues sell tickets directly at their box office location, often with lower fees.
- See if the event offers an alternate pre-sale – Check if the artist or promoter provides a fan club or email list presale.
- Use a ticket reseller – StubHub, VividSeats and other resellers may include fees in ticket prices but sometimes have cheaper offerings than Ticketmaster.
- Join the venue fan club – Some venues waive fees for fan club members when tickets are first released.
Is Ticketmaster legally allowed to charge more than face value?
Ticketmaster’s fees and service charges are legal. The company operates primarily based on agreements and contracts with the venues, sports teams, and event organizers. These clients allow Ticketmaster to set service fees on ticket sales through their platform.
Tickets also typically have fine print stating the face value price does not include service fees. So customers are generally notified fees will be added on top of the base price.
There have been some lawsuits and complaints against Ticketmaster over the years regarding their fees. But thus far, courts have ruled their fees are legal as long as they are disclosed to customers upfront before finalizing the purchase.
Conclusion
In most cases, Ticketmaster tickets sell for significantly more than just the printed face value price. Fees for services, processing, and delivery typically add 10-25% (or more) to each ticket purchase. While these fees are frustrating for many customers, Ticketmaster argues they are essential to fund its ticketing systems and operations. A small number of exceptional cases allow face value Ticketmaster tickets, but fees are charged on the vast majority of purchases.